The MIracle Noodle is a great way to get a low-glycemic, gluten free menu addition!

When ordering in bulk, each bag costs about$2.33.

I have finally found a noodle that we with celiacs’, autism, and hypo-glycemia can eat that is also GOOD! Great for either Paleo or Vegan diets, it is rich in fiber and low in calories, helps lower cholesterol and is filling as well as tasty!

The Japanese have kept this little, zero calorie secret for 2000 years, and I am sharing it with you! My last post showed all the great stuff I ordered from Vitacost, which I use because I get all of my great organics there monthly, with no shipping, but I want you to have the Miracle Noodle web site for yourself, http://www.miraclenoodle.com/default.aspx

The Shirataki root fiber is called gluccomannan, and has no sugar, starch, nor calories, yet is filling, and has the consistency of typical noodles!

This lovely dish above took only five minutes to make, and the noodles take on the flavor of the dish, while adding no trouble to your day.

If you look at the pic to my last post, you can see the noodles nicely packaged in water; all you do is drain for a minute, let some water boil in a pan, blanche two packs for four servings in the boiling water for another minute, then strain, and blot dry with a few paper towels.

I then popped the noodles back in the empty, warm pot, stirred in my favorite sauce to blend, and then put on a plate. I sprinkled goat cheese, some olives, and then a little basil, oregano and sea salt.

Then, I garnished with grated colby cheese, and chowed down! Great for those working on losing weight, lowering cholesterol, or dealing with food allergies.

These were the spinach spaghetti, and last week I used the fettucine dressed in a umeboshi curry sauce that I couldn’t stop eating! I will post that recipe next…

The time for change is now. In this moment.
Breathe in deep, feeling love, acceptance, peace.
Hold that breath and realize that you are worth all of these, and more…
you were made by a loving Creator, given unique gifts, and meant to make a difference in the world.

Slowly exhale to the count of 6, feeling all tension, stress, and sadness leave your chest and bowels.
Push, push and push that muscle under the lungs, the diaphragm, letting all stagnant energy be removed.

Breathe in deep, to the count of 4, lifting even to your shoulders the feelings of love, joy, and abundance. Release again to the count of 6, giving all worry permission to leave, releasing all your troubles and pain to Creator, and out of your cells.

Sacred change in on the wind, powerful change with unlimited possibilities.
In order to align with these energetic vibrations, I will be opening my doors,
offering a two year apprenticeship that will meet in different places in North Carolina and Virginia, depending on which areas have the most students.

We will cover topics such as –

the sacred drum; how to make one and how to tap into its ancient healing power

the purpose of smudging the body, home and living/working spaces, and what one uses and how it heals

original voice – how everyone has one, how it manifests healing and prosperity, and why we should chant, sing and tone – how to use a variety of syllables for different types of healing

The power of music to heal or destroy, and what types of music advancements are available, looking at cymatics, the power of entrainment, Dr. Emoto, Dr. Jenny, Aeoliah, Stewart Pearce, solfeggio, and other techniques

How to connect to angels, spirit guides, animal spirits and totems, and why this is valuable

Plant as medicine; how we connect to and learn from them; discovering tinctures, essential oils, Bach essences, and how to use plants as medicine, also how to grow in a small space, no matter the place

Why the medicine wheel is a sacred and invaluable tool, that is applicable in every day life, and stones to make a portable wheel that can aid you on the go

The value of crystals in healing – as energetic, healing instruments, in making elixirs, protective grids for work, car or home, healing layouts and in drawing your highest good to you

Ways to champion the inner child – for health, wellness, sexual relationships and emotional balance, and as a way to raise your vibration to create the best and most fulfilling relationships for your future happiness

Different modalities of hands on and distant energy work, and why working with energetics is such a valuable tool, studying chakra energy centers, moving blockages with energy, and how sound and color are helpful

– and more…making new connections and paving the way to better and more fulfilling relationships

In anticipation of the upcoming cycle of prophetic blood moons next month, I will have a new blog, new website and begin the pre-registration of this learning circle, open to anyone who cares to attend.
There will be more information on the new blog, with introduction posts to follow.

I look forward to sharing new techniques and ancient technologies, with many materials, exciting books, and a wealth of information to propel you to a new and exciting future.

Isolated. Alone. Misunderstood. Unloved. Depressed. Teens and young adults are suffering all over the world. I hear and feel you; I know your struggle to find a place to ‘be’ that is safe. I see it the emo movement, which is now quite prevalent even in middle school life, and by the angst on fb and other web posts. Many energetic forces are working against you, so the more knowledge you have, the better your chances of rising above and into a more peaceful and happy state.

There are many universal forces out there, all about – this is a time of great upheaval and move towards a new state of being. There are many biblical references coming to pass, as well as other ancient visions being realized. The current way is life is no longer working energetically, and Gaia and those within her are pushing towards a new dimension. This is not the time to be afraid, it is a time to be aware, and to begin researching the wonderful, diverse, and exciting possibilities. The more tools you have in your holistic tool belt, the better your life experiences, and the more you can manifest the life that deserve.

I would like to do some articles on different modalities of healing work – an introduction to the rich and vastly different way that energy and light workers offer assistance in this chaotic time. Many of you do not have access to this ancient, yet valuable knowledge, so I feel led to share some of my friends and colleagues with you. If you would like to recommend a modality for me to research, or know someone who has helped you holistically, please let me know. I’d love to write about it. So, be on the look out for a sprinkling of these wonderful facilitators between my other articles on well-being and finding the best mate for you.

The supernatural is discussed in almost every book forum across the world; it is no secret that people are fascinated by what dwells ‘across the veil’. Spirits, sprites, angels, ghosts, demons, animal spirits, the fae, Greek gods, vampires, were wolves – we make these fiction authors millionaires.

As a medicine woman, I see, feel and hear all of these energies, and am amazed; constantly, that the same people who devour these fictional works are terrified to experience them in reality. Whether or not you choose to accept it doesn’t mean these creatures are not living, moving and existing near and right there with you. Now. As you read this post or watch that new episode of ‘Supernatural’ or VC.

I have paid attention to this wave, an insurgence of new age fumbling with the old, ancient texts, language, spells and incantations spun in shadow and with only half truths for guidance. There are careless experiences with Ouija and voodoo, an overall lack of respect for plant medicine, the irreverent use of animal remains, tooth, feather or bone. The lack of love for Nature, the four directions, our Earth Mother, even the air divas, as well as total ignorance in working with the animal kingdom is painfully adding to the daily destruction of the world, and our life, as we have known it.

I hear and see that many talk of being ‘seekers’, yet there is little action. I watch people ‘playing’ with crystals, bragging about spells they’ve learned or done, or how someone is looking for a teacher. Yet, when someone appears, they run the other way, or when a valid reader tells a client personal things and gives honest, earned knowledge to help the client heal and improve his/her life, why is it neither followed nor appreciated?

The integrity and honor of this work is a sacred calling; it did not manifest overnight. When I ‘take’ the pain, it is exactly that; I am transmuting pain, disease, heartache, the entity, miasm, tumor, or cyst and pulling it from your tissue, and releasing it through years of knowledge, experiential study, channeling, and prayer. I always carry it from your energy through mine, and then outward, to the Universal flow. It takes great skill and years of practice to keep these higher vibrations from settling in my body or making me sick, and the work does take its toll over time. You can learn that these pains are lessened through dietary choices, meditation, water, and a move to a less carbon diet. The more raw, plant based food you ingest with love, the better, especially things you grow yourself.

Never underestimate the intimacy and love that flows from plant to owner, especially over time. Plants have a huge capacity for unconditional love, and give of themselves that we may live, in harmony with humans as long as we continue to create or re-discover our connection to the natural world. Plants dance, feel, and even think, with sensitive systems that are more highly developed than our own. The Creator has given us a cure for every disease from the plant pharmacopeia, and it is our duty to curate, protect and resonate with the natural world, both plant and animal.

Once you begin to see the value of these esoteric connections, and learn about how we strengthen these bonds, we are then more able to see clearly the true value of the other humans around us, as well. We become more sensitive to the inner workings of the opposite sex, and can begin to communicate without words, but with the harnessing of energy.

We sense when the other is near, or in danger, or thinking of us. We can prolong or bring on the orgasm of the other or ourselves, and learn ways to intensify the pleasure of both of you with guided imagery and energetic exchange, strengthening the bonds of intimacy, pleasure and connection over time, instead of drifting apart. Through guided meditation, partner work, reiki, Native American healing and other forms of energy work, connections between the spiritual and physical body are developed, strengthened; pulling your authentic self back together, giving you a new view of life. There is a stronger desire to live, a more positive outlook, better health, and vigorous, passionate love relations that are mind blowing.

There is expansive, priceless and much sought after knowledge to be found in taking time to study and reflect on the old way of doing things. The brief pleasure of instant gratification is forgotten once one is saturated in the lasting glow of a developed practice that is mastered over time, with respect and in following sacred principles from the ancient ones.

Money may be harder to come by, ‘things’ may be a strain to purchase, yet it is crucial to bless that which we DO have, continuing those blessings and the more to come.

One example of this is in the cooking ceremony, and something like old-fashioned cheese grits is the prefect way to send love to yourself and those in your household.

Old fashioned, stone ground flours/meals are a highly vibrant addition to the overworked American diet.

For my breakfast this morning, as snow whirls around and wind rattles the tin-roof barn, I set aside fifteen minutes to use this coarse, yellow corn stone ground grits from a little mill in NC from 1896.

I imagine the stone turning, the gears cranking, dust motes dancing between sun stripes and shadow in the old mills I’ve visited in my past, in both NC, MD and PA. They are amazing structures; the old cranks, belts and gears humming from water to wheel, while I stand over the little simmering pot of my own four serving breakfast.

Shaking my Himalayan salt through the steam, cutting a pat of butter to slide around between white and yellow grains, I know I am sharing love and energy with all the other ‘simple’ folks who bought and are buying these products since the 1800’s, or even before, depending on which mill you order from.

I give thanks for whatever’s on my mind at this moment; asking for blessings for my family, thinking warm, loving thoughts for those whose bellies will be warmed by this gentle respite from over due bills, school tests, bullies in the halls, job searching…

In this moment it is me, Creator, and the energy of our ancient friend corn who has fed our ancestors , since around 7,500 BC. A little leaf of bay adds to the salt, butter, and sprinkling of ground black peppercorns. 1/4 c. grits per 1 c. of water, and grated cheese to taste (we like to ‘taste’, so 1/2c. sharp cheese at the end of cooking 3/4c grits).

I hold the little steaming bowl in my hands, letting the warmth caress my face, and just give thanks to a loving Creator, and send love outwards to those that may need it, wherever they live, whatever their situation.

Take a little time, and you can find a mill (grist and/or roller) in your own area to patron. Children of all ages are fascinated by the old technology, and the history, as well. It is well worth the drive to visit one for the day.

Our lives are hectic, stressful; depleting us of much needed vitamins, minerals and energy. It is crucial to our well-being, this ability to be fully present and in the moment by incorporating live food to our tables. Being vibrant, joyful, aware and energetic draws those types of relationships to us, allowing more endurance for more fulfilling sexual intimacy, complete health, and a vigor for life in general. Foods like this are also calming and aid the person with autism, who often has digestive issues.

Store bought yogurt is nothing compared to live, fresh yogurt, but it does have some beneficial cultures when you aren’t near the farm. It is helpful to get the highest quality yogurt you can afford, plain organic is best. I will soon be adding recipes that add life to your food, such as adding buttermilk to your yogurt, and making panir at home.

Making your own tzatziki is an excellent, easy way to add important supplements to your daily diet. I made this, and ate it from a spoon all day long in addition to my weekly juice for my GERD and ulcers. Cucumber and lemon are very beneficial to an overworked system, and aid in weight loss.

Recipe –
2 c. plain yogurt (drained in cheese cloth for at least 3 hours)in sieve in a cool place 1 medium cucumber 1 tbl. fresh lemon juice
1 t. salt 1/4 t. coarsely ground black pepper 2 t. olive oil 1 tbl. chopped fresh parsley (1/4 t. yellow asafoetida powder)
Semi-peel the cucumber, leaving a little of the green underskin. Slit in half, and scoop out seeds. Grate coarsely, then use a paper towel to remove excess liquid. Put drained yogurt in a bowl, adding the other ingredients, except oil and asaf. powder, if you are using this fragrant seasoning. Otherwise, mix the oil in, as well, chill and then serve. You can put the oil in a pan, warming, and then adding the yellow asaf. until it emits its lovely scent. Quickly remove from the heat, and mix all together. Chill for several hours.

In my quest to be gluten-free (or GMO free), and move towards a completely vegan lifestyle, I will be sharing my experiences with you on the recipes, as well as the results for my family and myself.

As a medicine woman who works with people having both very serious emotional and physical illness, it is crucial that I keep the mHZ of my organs and body as far above 90 as possible, as most of our organs require that level of energy to stay well. The fresher, more raw the food, the higher the energy that we ingest. Avoiding meat as much as possible has many positive ramifications, as well as is an ethical obligation due to the way the majority of our meat makes its way to our table. From an energetic standpoint, the move away from the dense, dead tissue is paramount for intuitives and healers, or those that care to evolve.

(I am curious as to how to bake without eggs, so will keep searching for that remedy)

I want this transition to be as peaceful as possible, and with an 85 year old mother and two teen boys, changing diets can be like pulling teeth. I incorporate as much fun stuff as I can, and yesterday was one of those days. We made mini-doughnuts, gluten-free and chocolate!, which were really yummy and not greasy(no deep fried cholesterol) as we steamed them in a doughnut cooker like a waffle iron, but with holes for the batter. It was a great find! You can also use this as waffle batter, it should make 8 waffle sections. Baking pans for doughnuts are also an option.

I always mix my fats and sugars first; hand mixing if using a liquid oil.

(In a separate bowl, I presift all of my dry ingredients together. Sifting is essential to well-blended dry ingredients. )

Next, I stir in pre-whisked eggs with my fats/sugars, and then add the coffee, as well as the other liquids, whisking more to combine.

Then, slowly add the above to the dry, sifted ingredients, until just combined. Fill your waffle iron or doughnut cups, and wait for the green ‘ready’ light to come on. Silvana uses doughnut baking pans, so she heats the oven to 350 and checks with a toothpick to test doneness, about 18 minutes.

I then rolled mine in a mixture of 1/4 c. cocoa sifted with 1/2 c. of confectioner’s sugar, but Silvana makes a glaze by stirring together 1/4 c. of boiling water with 6 oz. of Ghirardelli chopped semisweet chocolate. When melted, she added 2-1/4 c. confectioner’s sugar, with 1-1/2 tbl. of corn syrup and 1 t. pure vanilla extract, stirring until smooth.

We’ve come a long way from the paper cut outs in elementary school, but the excitement is still there…

Valentine’s Day; hearts aflutter, tin-foil Cupids dangling from a string tacked to the ceiling, the wonder and anticipation of the anonymous gift left on your desk, the potential text from an old flame, the hope that someone will start a conversation on your online dating profile… …and then the anxiety and sadness that no one will.

Being single again, especially as a single mom, can be a difficult and trying time. The older we get, the slimmer the pickings from the ‘ole gene pool. We often long for a connection, the closeness of snuggling together on the couch, waking up with another’s arm around you, listening to the slow, comfortable breath of another beside you in the waning hours of night.

Being alone and feeling OK about it is quite difficult for some, especially for those for whom a past love has passed on, or the other’s feelings drastically changed after a long relationship. We long to find ways to patch up the hole quickly and easily. However, finding a fulfilling and rewarding relationship can be difficult at this time. When you are single, but wanting to be in a relationship more than anything, even if you are not currently having sex, it does not make you celibate. Your goal is to find another guy, preferably super hot, rich and totally into you so you can settle down and be happy together. The intention is to have sex; deliciously steamy, prolonged and erotic, as much of it as you can get. I am not blaming you, by any means; sex between two consenting, like-minded individuals is a dream come true in certain situations.

Whether you are in a committed relationship, or if you both are looking for a NSA, clear communication and honesty make all the difference. What messes most dating potential up is the lack thereof. I have shared quite a few of my personal past dating experiences with you in these posts, some of which I had to delete, as my occasional foray into the erotic side of humanity upset some poor soul who felt my blog was only for ‘mature’ audiences. Therefore, the best segments were deleted so that I could get full use of tags, etc. So, if you are new to this blog, you can’t see just how much I have enjoyed the single again life in that respect, at times.

On the other side of the coin is the strong desire to express unconditional love of my self by taking quiet time away from the noise and clutter of ‘needing’ a man, or ‘wanting’ this guy or that one due to his hot looks or his persuasive texts, or just craving some hot sex and to be held afterwards.

When I take time to separate myself from the confluxes of text messages from five different PD’s(potential dates) a day, pick up texts from younger guys looking for a ‘cougar’ or a ‘mother figure’, and come to peace with the fact that I am currently alone because I haven’t yet found a mate that meets or excels my current requirements, I can then come to a place of quiet surrender with my existence. This is complete free will, not self-imposed isolation, and can be revoked at any time. What is the value of this, you ask?

If you can take a ‘break’ from this almost addicting need to find the ‘other’, searching under every rock and around every corner in the hopes you will bump into him or her, you may find that there is deep and satisfying gratification in taking time to fully explore ways to develop past talents that were thrown to the side while you furthered your first love’s career, take up new hobbies that you would not have been brave enough to try because a past date didn’t ‘approve’ or ‘enjoy’, and actually start to prioritize and nurture self-development. When you can take a step back from the obsession to do something to be the ‘right’ one for an ‘ex’ or even a PD, you may actually begin to enjoy life more.

Time with friends become more precious, you find the beauty in things forgotten, and actually experience a deepening and acute awareness of your senses when they are aroused because you aren’t inundated with constant stimuli.

Take a little time to read books by any of the Tibetan monks, whom many of us thought didn’t feel or experience sensually. You would be quite surprised to read some of the more personal memoirs they give after being released from prison. They expressed just how more in tune they were with emotions and feeling, having deep experiences once they were freed from their torture and allowed to live freely.

Time to yourself is crucial if you wish to develop in a way that will draw a strong, mature catch to your net. It is difficult to get quiet and let your heart speak, especially if you are a survivor of deep trauma and/or abuse. However, you must go here if you wish to attract that special ‘other’. As long as you have open emotional wounds, other people will be drawn to you with the same issues, as well as predators who can feel those weaknesses, taking advantage of your needs because they will be hard to hide.

Taking a break to be celibate because you are not desperate to find a way to make each one you meet be the ‘one’allows you to take an interested distance in getting to know someone. There is no hurry, no reason to come off as ‘needy’. You don’t have to make the date work, don’t have to pretend to like someone that obviously isn’t a good match. You know there is plenty of time, and the right one is out there. No hurry. No push. Just go easy, and walk away if it doesn’t feel right.

Remind yourself that there are 100 more where that one came from; because there ARE.

As an aside – I love gardening; especially flowering plants of beauty. My husband would always bring me lovely bouquets of flowers on my birthday and Valentine’s because he appreciated this about me. Since his wrongful imprisonment, I have not received any flowers for over three years. I have a wonderful friend that’s like a sister to me; we have known each other over 19 years. She knew I was saddened by my struggle to have my husband released, and on my birthday, out of the blue, she sent me a bouquet of flowers. I was so taken aback that it made me cry.

Because of my choice to be celibate these past several months the flowers were like special creations of the finest Japanese silk; the roses tight and full of soft petals, the iridescence of the creamy white Asian lilies emanated the most decadent and lovely scent that I hadn’t smelled in a long time. It touched me to the core of my soul to receive this gift, more than she could know. It reminded me of happier times, peaceful and loving memories, and the love of a kind, dear friend who understands that being alone doesn’t have to mean being lonely.

When you learn how to meet his needs, he’ll start counting down the minutes until he can leave work to be with you!

A man needs, craves and demands an intense attraction to his partner of choice if he is going to be fulfilled; there’s no doubt about this. Never think that just because you had a dry-panting, heart pounding sweat session that he will become unwaveringly yours.

The opposite is in fact true.

If he doesn’t call you at every chance, drive for miles to see you, go out of his way to make you notice him, then chances are you are nothing more than an appetizer while he’s deciding on his main course.

You deserve better.

Men love to be teased, enticed, and thrilled with anticipation and vibrant physical encounters; but to win his heart you must also nurture, soothe and encourage.

Finding playful ways to draw him in are key; such as provocative texts that leave him breathless, being a little dirty and daring in public – spicing up his senses with exotic scents, a variety of fabric textures, a willingness to explore and try new things, be bold.

The secret is to also maintain a direct sense of self, maintaining your independence, a reassuring voice of authority that is neither critical or demeaning, while setting clear boundaries and concise lines of communication.

In order for men to feel secure ( a must-have to be a priority), it is crucial that he knows what’s expected of him. Use short, present tense action verbs, with sentences that clearly state how valuable he is when he ‘x’ – arrives a few minutes early, tells you what his favorite foods are, helps you cook the dinner, or washes the dishes afterwards, etc. Always start your request with a descriptive compliment that praises his abilities to make you feel safe, or valued, such as “I love the way your arms flex when you carry in the groceries or the trash, or vacuum or fold clothes” – whatever.

“It makes me feel so safe when you take out the trash at night, because I feel so vulnerable going down to the end of the parking lot, driveway, etc.” A man is hard-wired to be the sole provider, and his lover to be the nurturer – so find ways to ALLOW him to do so, even if you have the more demanding career, or don’t need his income.

With our ever-changing, uncertain economic future adding stress and complexity to finding joy and peace, it is essential that we become more creative and positive in our sexual relationships. Make it your responsibility to look for the gifts your PD(potential date) has been ready to lie at your feet, and praise and re-affirm his manliness and attractiveness by calling attention to them, even if you personally may be agitated by them at first. Paying attention to where PD spends most of time will clue you in to whether he is truly worth the time to catch, instead of just settling for the first one that comes along. Especially when you are re-entering the dating scene after a bitter past.

When a man has a hectic, extensive job, often the first thing he wants to do when he comes home is to lie in front of the t.v. Yes, it aggravates us, but try a different approach. Why not sit at the end of the couch, and pay him some type of physical attention that he enjoys, like a foot or facial massage?

A face or gentle head rub is a technique that I’ve found to be very relaxing, and will also make a man more receptive to your current need or want, ie. going out to dinner, help with looking over the bills, going out later with friends.

Gentle, firm and circular motions along the middle of the scalp, palms facing downward, cupping the sides of his head while your fingers gently work his scalp along the center of his entire head, top and back, finger tips touching, will relax and soothe the places where the plates in the skull touch. These often hold tension, and are very taut; immediately relaxing at firm, gentle touch. A man’s forehead and ears also benefit from being kneaded and massaged. He will be putty in your hands after a few minutes of a complete head, forehead and ear massage, and more willing to listen to your suggestions. And, make it that – just an opportunity to see old friends, get out for a little while, get tonight’s special at his favorite restaurant – remaining open to his right to decline. Whenever he feels he has a choice, he is usually more open to agreeing to something that you enjoy.

Give him a reason to want to do these things, mainly because you notice and appreciate them. A man has to feel needed, he has to be allowed to provide for you in order to be at ease with himself and the relationship.

If you need further suggestions for softening his resistance, let me know!

On a lovely little winding road that snakes along the Blue Ridge Parkway is a quaint cottage that I pass almost daily, as it is almost next door to my home. No one lives there, which is not unusual in this area. Many chalets and small houses are vacation rentals; most sit empty or for sale due to our economy.

It looked like the perfect place for us…

As my lease is nearing a close in the coming summer, I’ve begun the arduous task of searching for something appropriate and affordable. This unusual place keeps coming to mind; I create different scenarios for how I could make the place work for us. The house is back from the road, with a long narrow yard; perfect for a small herd of goats. The back could be cleared and become a most magical garden, with place for a swing, and an arbor.

Even though I haven’t had time to investigate it on a personal basis, it is tempting to day dream about all the things I could do there, how it would be an easy move, especially as the boys are in school, how much fun it would be to decorate, etc.

In this new world of online dating, it is often quite difficult to figure out the rules
so that one has a chance at actually winning. Dating is a double-edged sword
at best; as we text or email for days on end with very little voice contact or face to face encounters.

It is easy to fall into this trap of thinking things like “he’s too busy to call”, or “he’s shy so I need to give him more time to come around”. Equally questionable is when he only wants to see you at your place or has no desire to go out once you do start dating.

I think that you are quick to catch on to signals like these, but what about the visual cues or illusion a man or woman creates through their appearance?

When we find a profile that visually stimulates us, and the PD(potential date) seems too good to be true, is terribly sexy or attractive, and says all of the ‘right’ things, it is easy to fall into the ‘daydream trap’.

In the beginning phase when we are getting to know someone, understand that PD is only showing you the very best he knows to offer, working hard to say all the things he has had success with in the past, choosing pictures that show off his best side, even old ones, whatever it takes to get you interested. During those first few days of chatting and meeting after work, it is easy to get so excited that we don’t pay attention to the actual words PD is using, or his tell-tale body language. Yet, it is crucial to our survival in the dating game to step outside of that crazy, hormonal rush and look at PD as one who is interested, yet distant. Let me explain….

After two weeks of fantasizing about all the great things I could do with the little house, I called the number on the sign by the road. It was almost a week before the owner called me back. (hint #1) She was a little clipped in her conversation, and explained that it was being sold ‘as is’, and that I would need to do any and all work after purchasing. I hung up, telling her I would check it out more tomorrow.

Well, the next day it was late, so approaching darkness, so I quickly ran over to get a closer look, and got caught up in a bramble, so just looked at the front, and came back home. I started to imagine all sorts of little potted herbs going down the steps, and rocking chairs on the porch, with some landscaped beds along the bottom of the porch, and how the goats could chew this down to the grass in no time! (I don’t have any goats now, mind you) (hint #2)

But, this is what we do as women, we are the home makers, the changers of the world, the fixers, no?

No. You must stop this notion when it comes to modern dating. You know NOTHING about this person as yet. All you know is what he is allowing you to, and if you aren’t alert and paying attention to the signs, then you only have yourself to blame when he cheats on you, doesn’t call back after getting you in the sack, or worse, has duped you into letting him move in with you and you are stuck in a crappy relationship as he is either jobless, homeless or an abusive person.

When we don’t remain a little detached in the beginning it can be hard to tell what is illusion and what is fact.

As women, we allow our minds to wander with the possibilities of what ‘could be’ or the ‘potential’ of something. However, when it comes to relationships or money, we must be more focused, clear and fully aware of what is happening between the lines. If you practice some tools I’ve learned along the way, and I will teach you in a later post, you will learn to avoid pitfalls, and how to tune in to a really great catch that may have more to him than meets the eye. Looks are definitely not the main consideration to make in determining whether to give a man who shows interest in you a chance.

As I found out when I finally took the time a week later to truly investigate the entire property, look at what was waiting once I got inside…

Don’t let your next date drag you into his illusion of being a great catch…

….a completely empty shell or something that had once been a great little place.